The flagging approval ratings of the German government, led by Friedrich Merz, are rooted in an overestimation of what can be achieved swiftly, according to Sven Schulze, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)’s leading candidate for the upcoming state election in Saxony-Anhalt. In an interview with the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”, Schulze suggested the government needs to recalibrate public expectations. “The government of Friedrich Merz should, in my view, correct its expectation management. Not everything can be resolved immediately. Perhaps this is also linked to the current poor polling figures for the federal government. Simply put, expectations were raised too high.
This assessment comes against a backdrop of concerning electoral projections for Saxony-Anhalt, slated for September 2026. Current polls place the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in a dominant position, significantly ahead of Schulze’s CDU. While dismissing these as “a snapshot in time” Schulze expressed a palpable concern, stating that such results would render the state “virtually un-governable”. His ambition is clear: to surpass the AfD and secure victory for the CDU.
Schulze strongly condemned the notion of voting for the AfD as a form of protest. He characterized such actions as “irresponsible” particularly given the anxieties driving voter choices. “There are fears about the future and people apparently want to send a signal through the election. However, I consider this signal to be irresponsible, because an AfD victory would put the state in an extremely difficult situation for five years.
He delivered a pointed warning about the potential consequences of an AfD-led government, asserting it would inflict “an inexpressible and significant damage” on both Saxony-Anhalt and Germany as a whole. Schulze drew a firm line, stating categorically, “In my cabinet, there will be no minister from the AfD and no minister from the Left party”. This declaration signals not only a commitment to excluding extremist parties from governance but also underlines the stakes of the upcoming election and the potential trajectory of German politics. Schulze’s commentary illuminates a deeper struggle to manage public perception and counter the rising appeal of populist sentiments within a fragile political landscape.
